Hello everyone,
I have recently spent several evenings re-calibrating my Dell U2711 display and have finally come up with a fantastic image so I thought I'd share my results for those having trouble calibrating this display (given the low quality AG coating this display comes with, calibration can be quite tough). Plus, during my Google search, trying to find some calibration tips, I was surprised at how little I found. Most of the forums I went to are discussions about the AG coating with hardly any talk about calibration. So, because of that, I figured I should share my calibration steps.
I edit video so I managed to come up with a calibration that shows great shadow detail (without crushing the blacks) yet still gives a deep, rich look for the graphics as well. Everything from the highs to the lows look great! And parts of the screen such as the dock look so vivid it's hard to distinguish from an Apple Display in terms of richness and clarity (without the shine, of course). You can still see the grain of the AG coating on bright areas of the screen but it's hardly distracting at all. On a side note: this is a great display for editing video even with the AG coating but if you edit still photography I would stay away from the U2711 entirely: still image + still grain = disaster!
Unfortunately I don't know much about internal computer system settings or if all displays that Dell ships are identical, so I can't say for sure that the calibration I did will work for everyone. However, if all Dell Displays and Apple computers (I use a 2010 MacPro) are 100% identical when shipped, then, if you follow my steps exactly, you should be able to come up with something similar to what I got. But I can't say for sure:
Step 1: Setting up the display.
Set the contrast to 100% and the brightness to 80%. Set the Gamma to (Mac), the Mode Selection to (Graphics), and the Preset Mode to (Custom Color). Now, in custom color leave the green at 100% and set both the Red and Blue to 98%.
Step 2: Setting up the Mac.
Run your Mac's Display Calibration Assistant (located in the Display section of System Preferences). Select the checkbox for Expert Mode and keep clicking continue till you get to the section with the lined boxes with the Apple logo in the middle.
Now, for all 5 'lined box' steps, make the Apple logo disappear using only the left slider (do not touch the right slider at all). To make the Apple logo disappear (blend into the box) you must squint your eyes until the lines that make up the box itself become one solid color (my eyes were about 75% closed). Take your time and make sure you are confident that the Logo is gone.
Then, when you come to the gamma screen either select 2.2 or 2.15 - the proper setting should be 2.2, however, I found the blacks to be not as deep as I'd like them to be (most likely because of the AG coating) so I choose 2.15 which I found to be the key to giving the display the richness it needs to look great.
When you get to the 'Target White Point' screen, select the checkbox 'use native white point'.
Then save you calibration profile and exit the assistant. Now go back to your Dell display settings and set the brightness to 100% and you should be good to go! Note: if you find your screen to be a little too dark, re-calibrate but try selecting 70% or 60% for the brightness during step one. That way, when you raise the brightness to 100% at the end, it should be somewhat brighter.
I hope this works as great for you as it did me! And even if it doesn't, hopefully you will end up with something half decent. But either way, please do share your results - I know there are a lot of people out there struggling with this display because of it's AG coating and some are even attempting to remove the AG coating with bad results. I even considered removing mine but now I am glad I didn't take the risk (I suck at doing those type of mods, haha). Now, my display looks almost as good as an Apple display (and without any glare!
I have recently spent several evenings re-calibrating my Dell U2711 display and have finally come up with a fantastic image so I thought I'd share my results for those having trouble calibrating this display (given the low quality AG coating this display comes with, calibration can be quite tough). Plus, during my Google search, trying to find some calibration tips, I was surprised at how little I found. Most of the forums I went to are discussions about the AG coating with hardly any talk about calibration. So, because of that, I figured I should share my calibration steps.
I edit video so I managed to come up with a calibration that shows great shadow detail (without crushing the blacks) yet still gives a deep, rich look for the graphics as well. Everything from the highs to the lows look great! And parts of the screen such as the dock look so vivid it's hard to distinguish from an Apple Display in terms of richness and clarity (without the shine, of course). You can still see the grain of the AG coating on bright areas of the screen but it's hardly distracting at all. On a side note: this is a great display for editing video even with the AG coating but if you edit still photography I would stay away from the U2711 entirely: still image + still grain = disaster!
Unfortunately I don't know much about internal computer system settings or if all displays that Dell ships are identical, so I can't say for sure that the calibration I did will work for everyone. However, if all Dell Displays and Apple computers (I use a 2010 MacPro) are 100% identical when shipped, then, if you follow my steps exactly, you should be able to come up with something similar to what I got. But I can't say for sure:
Step 1: Setting up the display.
Set the contrast to 100% and the brightness to 80%. Set the Gamma to (Mac), the Mode Selection to (Graphics), and the Preset Mode to (Custom Color). Now, in custom color leave the green at 100% and set both the Red and Blue to 98%.
Step 2: Setting up the Mac.
Run your Mac's Display Calibration Assistant (located in the Display section of System Preferences). Select the checkbox for Expert Mode and keep clicking continue till you get to the section with the lined boxes with the Apple logo in the middle.
Now, for all 5 'lined box' steps, make the Apple logo disappear using only the left slider (do not touch the right slider at all). To make the Apple logo disappear (blend into the box) you must squint your eyes until the lines that make up the box itself become one solid color (my eyes were about 75% closed). Take your time and make sure you are confident that the Logo is gone.
Then, when you come to the gamma screen either select 2.2 or 2.15 - the proper setting should be 2.2, however, I found the blacks to be not as deep as I'd like them to be (most likely because of the AG coating) so I choose 2.15 which I found to be the key to giving the display the richness it needs to look great.
When you get to the 'Target White Point' screen, select the checkbox 'use native white point'.
Then save you calibration profile and exit the assistant. Now go back to your Dell display settings and set the brightness to 100% and you should be good to go! Note: if you find your screen to be a little too dark, re-calibrate but try selecting 70% or 60% for the brightness during step one. That way, when you raise the brightness to 100% at the end, it should be somewhat brighter.
I hope this works as great for you as it did me! And even if it doesn't, hopefully you will end up with something half decent. But either way, please do share your results - I know there are a lot of people out there struggling with this display because of it's AG coating and some are even attempting to remove the AG coating with bad results. I even considered removing mine but now I am glad I didn't take the risk (I suck at doing those type of mods, haha). Now, my display looks almost as good as an Apple display (and without any glare!
